Australian actress Alea O’Shea has undergone surgery amid an “ongoing fight” against brain cancer after signs such as a crooked smile led to her getting a critical biopsy on her 25th birthday last year.
The former Home and Away actress announced she was diagnosed with brain cancer in a November social media video, saying: “This is a video I thought I would never have to make, but I have been recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
“About six weeks ago, I noticed that my smile was a little uneven, and it felt hard to talk, like get[ting] my words out. I had a few migraines, but nothing scary.
“Then, whilst recently in LA, I lost feeling in two of my fingers, which then crept into my wrist and then my toe.”
O’Shea suspected her ailments stemmed from a pinched nerve and visited her physiotherapist. “He immediately realised it was beyond his scope and sent me to get a brain scan,” O’Shea said. “And that’s how we found it.
“If there is one thing I want people to take from this video is [to] advocate for yourself when something feels odd, even slightly.”
In an update to her dedicated GoFundMe page – which has accumulated more than $80,000 in donations – the fundraiser’s organiser revealed that O’Shea underwent surgery last week and that her family is seeking access to essential treatments that are not covered by private health insurance.
“Alea is a remarkable young woman whose strength, kindness, and determination continue to inspire everyone around her,” the GoFundMe read.
“Over the past months, Alea has been bravely facing brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it. Last week, she underwent another surgery as part of her ongoing fight.
“Like many families navigating serious illness, they have discovered that a number of essential cancer treatments, therapy and procedures are not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden.”
O’Shea played Darcy Callahan on Seven’s Home and Away soap series between 2011 and 2017.
Through her social media channels, O’Shea has shared her journey of becoming disabled on her left side – which could lead to full left-side paralysis – and gradually losing her hair with an optimistic and cheerful outlook.
She has also founded a business that crowdfunds money for women with cancer to gift them high-quality wigs.
In her November video, O’Shea said that while the placement of her brain cancer meant she could no longer flip people off or throw a thumbs up, it would not affect her personality.
“So I am still going to be as hilarious and have the gift of the yap,” she said.
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